WALLA WALLA, Wash. -- Robbie Munday, one of three seniors who anchor the Whitman College men's tennis team, has been named Northwest Conference Player of the Week for the second time in his college career.
Playing his best tennis of the season, Munday was undefeated in three matches last week as Whitman began a series of Spring Break matches in California. He posted his most critical wins in a 5-4 Missionary victory at the University of Redlands last Friday. With the team scoring tied at 4-4, Munday finished off a 6-3, 6-7, 7-6 victory at No. 3 singles to clinch the Whitman triumph. He also teamed with Missionary sophomore Christoph Fuchs for a 9-8 win at No. 3 doubles.
In the latest NCAA Div. III national rankings, which were released last Thursday, Redlands was ranked No. 12, three spots in front of Whitman.
Whitman opened its Spring Break trip last Wednesday with a 7-2 loss to 10th-ranked Washington University (St. Louis, Mo.), but Munday had a hand in both Missionary team points. He won 6-3, 6-2 at No. 3 singles, and he and Fuchs tallied a a 9-7 victory at No. 3 doubles.
Munday notched two more wins in Whitman's 6-3 victory at California Lutheran on Saturday. He won again at No. 3 singles, and he and Fuchs scored an 8-2 win at No. 2 doubles.
Although it had no bearing on his NWC award, Munday continued his winning ways yesterday when Whitman edged 13th-ranked Kalamazoo College on neutral courts in Claremont, Calif. After he and Fuchs won again at No. 2 doubles, Munday rolled to a 6-1, 6-4 win in singles.
Whitman is off to its best start in two decades. The Missionaries are 18-3 on the season, which includes a 12-0 mark in the NWC.
Munday, a graduate of Pentincton Secondary in British Columbia, won his first NWC Player of the Week award last spring as a junior. He is the second member of Whitman men's team to earn the award this season. Senior Phalkun Mam was honored two weeks ago.
Dave Holden, Whitman Sports Information, (509) 527-5902
Email: holden@whitman.edu